The Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU) sent a letter via email to the Chief Executive Officer of WIN, Andrew Lancaster, requesting consultation regarding the recent axing of editorial staff in Mount Gambier and the Riverland.

Lead organiser for commercial broadcasting at the CPSU, Lena Lind, believes the short notice delivered to staff could be in breach of Clause 8 of the Broadcasting and Recorded Entertainment Award.

"This is about WIN having a legal obligation under the awards system to talk to staff, not just the ones being made redundant but the wider group of staff including the representatives, in this case us the union, about major workplace change that will have a significant impact not just on the people that lose their jobs but on the people that are left behind in a very different work environment," she said.

When an employer makes a decision regarded as a 'major workplace change' under the awards system, employees are entitled to certain rights.

Ms Lind says those rights are enshrined to make sure that staff are looked after.

"There's a requirement in that clause for employers to consult with staff on decisions that would introduce major change in the workplace.

"We have to make sure that people's rights are protected, that people who lost their jobs have been treated in a fair way and that people that have been left behind don't all of a sudden get asked to take on duties that are unreasonable.

"We're very disappointed that WIN has failed to consult on what is clearly a major workplace change," she said.

If WIN TV do not respond to the union's request for consultation by COB on Thursday, they intend to take the matter to Fair Work Australia.

"We will make an application to Fair Work Australia seeking an urgent hearing to try and see if we can bring WIN to the table.

"We believe there has been a clear breach because they have an obligation to talk to the representatives [union] and some members have not been consulted about what these changes mean for them.

"Our understanding is that people are being asked to take on duties that they haven't previously performed," said Ms Lind.

Staff who held the 10 redundant positions, including four cameramen, five journalists and a presenter, were not offered alternative employment at their current locations.

Opportunities within the WIN Network nationwide have been presented to some of the staff provided they can secure the position themselves.

Ms Lind says staff have been given a "harsh deal".

"We think it shows that they have very little disregard for their staff by telling them at such short notice.

"It doesn't give people much time to prepare, to start looking for other work or do anything of the kind.

"What about people with young children having to make decisions with very short notice about whether they want to pack up and leave," she said.

While speculation about whether there was a future for WIN TV in South Australia has been hinted at for months, it has come as a shock and a disappointment to the community.